L1, L2 Visa

I have been reading this forum for almost a year now and I believe the diverse contents in this platform can indeed aid an applicant. To cut it short, I am simply going pen down my experience as an L1-B applicant. 

I filed for L1B Individual petition on September 14th 2019 under Premium Processing Program. The original petition had a highly detailed support letter, stating my fine grained job duties at India and the proposed duties in US, there was too much technical information laced in every paragraph to establish the fact that it requires specialised skill to deliver on the US role, also attached patents, designed docs that I prepared, training presentations, customer interaction emails, product brochures etc.

However, USCIS issued an RFE on September 29th seeking some clarification on some presumed discrepancies and this was the toughest period to see through. For example, the RFE asked for salary information of peers to establish the fact that I am indeed specialised among the lot. I can't divulge much information on the RFE since it demands classified information about the company. In summary, we worked on the RFE with my supervisor, did several passes with my director and the final cut was reviewed by our top management. Took our own sweet time, to prepare all the necessary artefacts and responded to the RFE on December 23rd 2019 and the law firm/attorney did a great job in establishing the case citing the L1B Memorandum issued by USCIS in 2015.

Since it was a week of holidays in the US and most part of the world, the case wasn't moving on the USCIS website for almost a week, but on Jan 6th the petition got approved.

I opted for the Kolkata US Consulate while filling-in the I-129 form, so the I797-B notice of action mentioned the Consulate Notified as Kolkata.

As for the interview, the questions were pretty much common with L1 cases. We arrived at the Consulate well ahead of the appointment time. I wasn’t carrying anything other than the documents and passport, but I was stopped at the gate for carrying my car key which was remote controlled. So I had to get rid of that first. Entered the consulate at around 9:30am, appointment time being 9:45am. The wait was long in a waiting area, close to an hour after which we entered the interview wing. I believe they were understaff early in the morning with only 1 interview counter operating and another counter to scan the passport barcode.

VO: Your passports please
Me: Handed over the passports (mine and my spouse’s) along with the I-797B Notice of Action.
VO: Who is sponsoring this L1?
Me: <My company name>
VO: Why an L1?
Me: Explained that I posses specialised knowledge in the product, gained over last 3 years.
VO: What is specialized about your role?
Me: Told about my skillset in Computer Networking, Virtualisation and Systems Programming. I also made a point about how these skillset available in the industry is applied in a unique way for our product.
VO: How many people worked in this field within your organisation.
Me: 4 people comprises of the core networking team in our company in India.
VO: Only 4 people knows about this technology in the entire company.
Me: Yes, we being a startup only my team knows about the core module.
VO: Is any of the 4 members in US
Me: I said NO, all of them operate as part of R&D India
VO: What is your highest qualification
Me: Post graduate.
VO: What about you madam, what is your highest qualification and which field
Spouse: She told about her post graduation degree in Data Science. (The VO at this point seems to be have recognised this term and didn’t ask her any further questions)
VO: Why did you choose to be here for the interview.
Me: I told him I was visiting my parents in my hometown and I choose this consulate.
VO: That’s sad, you have stay away from your family.
VO: Can you repeat about the specialised knowledge you just mentioned in Computer Networking.
Me: I reiterated the terms, Software Defined Networking and Virtualisation
VO: Typed these terms in his computer.
VO: Which state in US and what’s you salary.
Me: Mentioned the state and my salary per annum.
VO: Did you ever apply for an US VISA erstwhile
Me: I revealed that I applied for B1 VISA at Chennai Consulate in the year 2017
VO: Do you still hold a valid B1 VISA.
Me: No, my VISA was denied then.
VO: Your L1 VISA is approved and it will be ready for your pickup in 5 business days.

After leaving the premises at around 11:30 am, I checked the US Visa application portal, it showed the status as ‘Issued’ immediately. I received a pick up notification the very next day through email.

My L1B visa request was denied in 2017 when I applied initially. This time it got approved.
If you ask me what has happened differently compared to the last time, I would say, preparedness. I was quite clear about all possible questions and how my answers should be articulated. The more VO understands your answers the easier it may be for them to decide, and it is obvious, they will not take chance to approve anything without completely understanding the case.

Me: Hi Good morning, how are you
VO: Good morning, I am fine. Can I get set of documents and passport you have got from the other counter
Me: (Passing the set of files along with our passports) Sure, please.
VO: Are you applying as an “Specialist”
Me: Yes
VO: Whom do you work for
Me: I work for “ZZZ” company. I provide service in the area of “YYY” for “ZZZ” company
VO: What is your educational Qualification
ME: Answered
VO: Was your visa rejected before, as I can see here ? (she was going through my application history)
Me: Yes. It was rejected 3 years before. I was not specifically told about the reason for rejection
VO: Was that a different client ?
ME: Yes
VO: Looking at my wife. Since how long you are married
My wife: “X” years
Visa officer kept on typing for almost 1 minute and put seal on the I-129S (I guess). “Your Visa is approved. Do you know from where y+ou can collect this ?”
Me: Thank you very much. Yes, I know the address to collect the passport. Have a good day ahead.
VO: You too. Bye.

Hi All,

At current circumstances of COVID-19 I have a query :

My L1A extension is in process, as per the website : https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/
Receipt date for a case inquiry has pass my receipt date, should I raise a service request for outside normal processing time” or shall I wait for some more time ?

I appeared for consulate interview in the month of Aug 2019 for L1 - A category visa for the role of Project Manager, but the VO approved L1-B and my I 129 S was stamped with L1 - B. However when I entered US, my I 94 was recorded as L1 A. When I visit https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home website, it still shows L1 A.

When I go for next visa renewal, should I apply for L1A renewal or L1B renewal?

I was interviewed on 12th March for L1A visa based on my companies blanket petition. VO confirmed that my visa is approved and gave me two stamped copies of I-129s and took my passport.
However, when I check the status even today it shows that the application is under administrative processing. Does anyone who was interviewed in Chennai around the end of last week received their passport with visa?

I had written to UStravel docs regarding the status of biometrics as it was not cancelled in the portal. Below is their reply.

"We understand that you would like to know about your biometrics appointment status.

In response to your question, please note that as long as your appointment for biometrics is remains scheduled you may proceed for biometrics. for further information regarding consular appointments kindly check the red banner and follow the link given below:http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/in/index.html?firstTime=No.&quot;

I understand it raises more questions than answers, but this is the current situation.

Hi All,

I had my L1 B Individual visa interview on 11th Feb in Chennai VAC,

After the interview, officer has retained my passport with them and handed over pink slip for more information which i shared on same day through email. I haven't received any proof for passport submission.

It's been 5 weeks and it's appearing same update in ceac website as AP.

My I-797 petition is already approved.

I am just checking the status on daily basis. If any one of you had any experience, please share. It will be big help.

Thanks
 

Experts here kindly suggest me for below query.

 My company for which i used to work in India is offering me a job here in USA. Currently, I am on H4 VISA. Can i ask my company file for my L1B VISA while i am here at USA for this job offer as it is only 5 months since i moved here before quitting in India?

Is there any legal requirement that i should be currently working for filing L1B visa or any other thing? I have over five years of experience with the company in India that i am offered role for in USA.

Kindly suggest on this!

L1B (Family) approved Chennai 12th MAR

First of all thanks a million to this portal. This is very helpful and thanks to everyone contributing.
I faced a L1B visa rejection before getting a L1 individual. This interview again for a L1B was very scary for me. I went through all the questions in the portal and prepared for any possible scenarios.

But reality was such a pleasant experience.

Me (family): Good morning Sir, my name is -----, my wife and daughter we are here for L1B and L2 visas today.
VO: Give me your passports
Me: Gave it to him
VO: who is your petitioner?
Me: answered
VO: You have a L1 before which was from a different petitioner.
Me: Yes Sir. Xx company was fully owned subsidiary for my company. But now all the companies are merged to my bank. We now have only one brand name.
VO: why did you not get a H4 for your kid.
Me: Sir that was back in 2007-2009. She was not born at that time.
VO: Please wait for few mins. I have to attend to a old person and she needs my assistance
Me: Sure Sir, please take your time.
After 10 mins of waiting
VO: sorry abt that. What will be you salary
Me: xxxx + bonus
VO: what will be your location
Me: NY sir
VO: with a smiley face your company has so many office in NY, which location in NY.
Me: gave the street address.

VO: which school you are studying
Kid : school and class

VO: What will you do in US. You will miss your friends.
Kid: smiled

After few minutes of typing, all your visa is approved.

All the very best to everyone applying.

Hi all,

As per the latest update, all immigrant and non immigrant visa appointment's are cancelled.

Is it true?

My visa appointmemt scheduled on march 30 in Hyderabad location.

Please give me anyone update about this?

Thabk you